Porous Concrete: The Eco-Friendly Solution to Fight Water Pollution

The porous concrete is made by a properly managed quantity of cementitious material along with water which is used to make a paste that forms a thick coating around aggregate particles.
Porous Concrete
Porous Concrete
It contains a mixture of coarse aggregate, cement and water. It contains no sand, using enough paste to coat and binds the aggregate particles together makes a system of highly porous, connected voids that drains quickly. 

While porous concrete can be used for a surprising number of applications, its primary use is in the pavement. It can benefit homeowners in urban, rural, and suburban areas. Porous concrete is becoming the preferred method of engineers and architects to manage storm water. Developers have a distinct advantage when they can manage storm water on confined commercial sites without retention ponds or detention facilities. Residential developers are also finding ways to make their project greener and reduce costs by using porous concrete. Porous concrete is also the perfect choice in this situation as it allows storm water runoff to percolate into the soil thus reducing the load going into the sewer system.


Working of Porous Concrete

When porous concrete is utilized for paving, it can take in storm water at a rate of 3-5 gallons per sq. ft. of surface area, which surpasses the flow speed needed to stop runoff in most rain events. The rainwater may be stored in a harsh gravel layer under the pavement or allowed to percolate into the underlying soil.
 As the pavement itself operates as a protection area, it aids to protects much of the polluted runoff that normally occurs with solid pavements. The filtration process also helps to purify the water and break down harmful pollutants and chemicals.


Why is porous concrete a sustainable solution?

  • Eliminates runoff of untreated storm water
  • Protects streams, watersheds and ecosystems
  • Directly recharges groundwater
  • Provides drip line irrigation for Urban trees and landscaping
  • Provides a higher albedo surface reflectivity index
  • Reduces surface temperatures and heat island effects
  • Eliminates the need for expensive collection and detention systems

Usage

Porous cement can be used nearly everywhere that the traditional material is used, including in residential paving, driveways, roads, alleys, sidewalks, walkways, patios, foundations for open-area buildings, artificial reefs, and walls. It can even be used in parking lots and boat launch ramps. Just think about any area that you walk or drive through regularly that floods every time it rains, and you can utilize Porous cement there.


Why Use porous Concrete?

Economic sensibility is one of the leading advantages that makes porous concrete pavement the most preferred choice.


Construction Cost Savings

Property builders will greatly appreciate the cost savings, because of reduced expenses normally incurred for the construction of required storm water drainage systems and retention areas. The use of porous concrete pavement reduces the requirements for these systems and the storm water management will be more reliable and consistent.


Durability- Longer Lasting

Porous concrete pavement’s durability has proven itself and will last more longer than all other common paving materials. Unlike other pavement materials, tests prove that porous concrete pavement becomes stronger and more stable when it gets wet.


Inexpensive 

As a result of porous pavement’s long-lasting durability, it requires substantially less long-term maintenance and repair. Expensive maintenance for pothole repairs and asphalt resurfacing are virtually eliminated.


Increase Land Utilization for Commercial location

The area designed with porous concrete pavement drives and parking areas will allow you to increase the square footage available for commercial utilization. This ultimately improves the property owner’s return on their investment.

 There are many environmental advantages gained because of choosing porous concrete pavement. The benefits are important and worth considering when determining what pavement is best suited for your projects. 

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